MY  SOUL'S 
CATHEDRAL 

GP  OTHER  POEMS 
»T  JAMES  HENRY 
MACLAFFERTY 


UNIVER5 

AT 

,ITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 

ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


THE  TEMPLE  OF  SILENCE 

ERECTED   NOT  BY  MANLY  BRAWN  NOR 

SKILL, 

BY  MASTER-BUILDER'S  ART  NOR  CUN 
NING  HAND; 

No  STIFFENED   MORTAR  BINDS  THEE 
WITH  ITS  BAND 

OF    CLAY    AND    HUMAN    BLOOD;    BUT    IN 

MY    WILL, 

YEA,    GREATER    FAR,  THY    MYSTIC     POR 
TALS    FILL 
THE   REGIONS    OF  MY  SOUL,  AND    EVER 

STAND 

AjAR,  TO    BID    ME   ENTER    IN;    EXPAND 
IN  ENDLESS  GROWTH,  AND  EVERY  TRUST 
FULFIL. 

AH!  — HERE     NO     SOUND  — THE      SILENCE 

O'ER  ME  STEALS, 
I    KNEEL    TO    BETTER    LOOK   WITHIN 

MY    SOUL, 

THE  ALTAR  DRAPED  WITH  FILMY  GAUZE 

OF  DREAMS, 
THE     PICTURED    WALLS,    MOSAICS     OF 

IDEALS; 
WHILE  SURGING  THROUGH  MY  BEING 

IS  THE  ROLL 

OF    GREAT    DESIRE    AS    OF    AN    HUNDRED 
STREAMS. 


MY  SOUL'S  CATHEDRAL 
OTHER  POEMS 


BY  JAMES  HRNRY  MACLAFFERTY 

COME  KNEEL  WITH  ME,  MY  COMRADE,  FRIEND, 

IN  THIS  CATHEDRAL  AISLE, 
AND  LOOKING  DEEP  WITHIN  THY  HEART 

FORGET  THE  WORLD  THE  WHILE; 
AND  IF,  BENEATH  THIS  HALLOWED  DOME, 

A  MESSAGE  COME  TO  THEE, 
THERE  DOTH  NOT  SPEAK  THE  MAN  I  AM, 

BUT    HE    I    LONG   TO    BE. 


PAUL  ELDER  &  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS...  SAN  FRANCISCO 


COPYRIGHT,  1910 

BY   PAUL  ELDER  AND  COMPANY 

SAN  FRANCISCO 


& 


-•  : 


•          r»».  ».  J     •• 

•....,.      .  ,  .,        •  •"    »}     J 


PS 


To  MY  FATHER 


to 

CO 


=  • 

• 


• 


[v] 

CONTENTS 

THE  TEMPLE  OF  SILENCE  — FRONTISPIECE 

THE   MAN  I  LONG  TO  BE  — TITLE  PAGE 

PAGB 

MY  SOUL'S  CATHEDRAL I 

GOD'S  GREAT  OCEAN 2 

To  THE  COLUMBIA 3 

LIFE'S  PARADOXES 5 

THE  LIGHT  THAT  ^URNS  FOR  ME     ....  6 

MIRROR  LAND 7 

A  GRAIN  OF  MUSTARD  SEED 10 

LOVE  NEVER  DIES 1 1 

THE  MEADOW-LARK 12 

EVIL  PLEASURE 13 

SHASTA 14 

ARTIST  INFINITE 15 

SONGS  OF  HAWAII 16 

Two  SONGS 17 

THE  LIFE  THAT  MIGHT  HAVE  BEEN  .     .     .  18 

COMPENSATION 19 

GROWTH  OF  THE  SOUL 20 

MY  TYRANT 21 

THE  EBB  OF  THE  TIDE  22 


MY  SOUL'S  CATHEDRAL 

MY  SOUL'S  CATHEDRAL  — HALLOWED  PLACE- 
SO    DARK,   SO    GLORIOUS,  FILLED   WITH    GRACE, 

WHENE'ER  MY  SOUL  DOTH  PART  THY  VEIL, 
AND  SCENT  THE  INCENSE  AS  IT  BURNS, 

IT    KNEELS    BEFORE    THE    HoLY    GRAIL, 

ITS  KINGLY  KING  OF  SACRED  URNS. 

THEN  THROUGH  VAST  ARCHES'  SACRED  GLOOM 

IT    HEARS   THE    DIAPASON    BOOM 

OF  GOD'S  GREAT  ORGAN'S  AWFUL  TONE, 
THAT  BIDS  ITS  INWARD  TUMULT  CEASE  — 

FOR  ANGELS  PLAY,  WHOM  GOD  HAS  SHOWN 
HlS  FACE,  AND  GIV*N  ETERNAL  PEACE. 

AND    ONE    BY    ONE  — LIKE    DEEP    BELLS    TOLL  — 
I    FEEL    RECEDING    FROM    MY    SoUL 

ITS    MOLTEN    GODS,  AND    IDOLS    VAIN, 
AND    IN    EACH    VACANT    NICHE    I    KNOW 

Is   TAKING    PLACE,  FROM    OUT    GOD'S    TRAIN, 
ONE    OF    HlS    ANGEL    HOST  .    .    .   AND    SO, 

MY    PROSTRATE    SOUL    LIFTS    UP    ITS    EYES 

AND  GAZES  INTO  PARADISE  ; 

THEN  GOES  AGAIN  INTO  THE  WORLD, 
A  SOUL  AS  PURE  AS  SOUL  CAN  BE, 

AND  WITH  A  NEW-BORN  STRENGTH  OUT-HURLED 
Is  EVIL  ...  I  HAVE  BEEN  WITH  THEE. 


[*] 

GOD'S  GREAT  OCEAN 

LET  ME  LINGER  NEAR  THY  BORDER, 
LET  ME  BLEND  MY  SONG  IN  THINE, 

As  THE  SMALLEST  SONG-BIRD's  MUSIC 
BLENDS  WITH  ORGAN,  DEEP,  DIVINE. 

AH  !    THY   PEALING 

GENTLY  STEALING 
O'ER  MY  SOUL,  DISSOLVES  MY  PRIDE; 

AND  DEEP  EMOTION, 

GOD'S  GREAT  OCEAN, 
WHELMS  ME,  AS  BENEATH  THY  TIDE. 

RHYTHMIC,  RESONANT,  RESOUNDING 

LlKE  AUGMENTED  PEDAL  BASS, 
THY  VIBRATION  STIRS  MY  BEING, 
LURES  MY  SPIRIT  INTO  SPACE  ; 
CLEARS  MY  VISION, 
GIVES  DECISION 

IN   THE    BATTLE    OF    MY    LIFE  ; 

CALMS  MY  SPIRIT 
WHEN  I  HEAR  IT, 
MAKING  PEACE  OF  INWARD  STRIFE. 


[3] 
To  THE  COLUMBIA 

THROUGH  THE  GOLDEN  DOORS  OF  MORNING, 

FLASHING  DOWN  THE  WONDROUS  WEST  ; 
OUT  THE  SOURCE  OF  LIGHT  ANO  WISDOM, 
NOURISHING  AS  MOTHER'S  BREAST, 
SOLEMN,  REGNANT, 
MAKING  PREGNANT 
HILLSIDE,  VALLEY,  FERTILE  PLAIN- 
MILLIONS  LIVING 

BY    THY    GIVING  — 

SEEKING  NOTHING  BACK  AGAIN. 

MONARCH  CROWNED  OF  MIGHTY  RIVERS, 

PEER  OF  ANY  FLOWING  STREAM, 
SURGING  'TWIXT  THY  VAST  EMBANKMENTS, 
PICTURED  LIKE  THE  FAIREST  DREAM  ; 
GLIDING,  SLIPPING, 
DASHING,  DIPPING, 

PEACEFUL,  CALM,  THEN  TORN  IN  STRIFE  ; 
OFT  REFLECTING 
STORMS  PROJECTING, 
LlKE  THE  MIRROR  OF  MY  LIFE. 

YEA,  AS  MORTAL'S  LIFE  I  SEE  THEE, 

FROM  THY  SOURCE  TILL  IN  THE  SEA, 
THOU  SHALT  RUSH  THY  MIGHTY  TORRENT, 
STRUGGLING  EVER  TO  BE  FREE. 
ALL  THY  LENGTH 
RECEIVING  STRENGTH 
FROM  AN  HUNDRED  SMALLER  STREAMS  ; 
FASTER  SPEEDING 

WlTH    THEIR    FEEDING, 
THY    LIFE    LIKE    A    MORTAL'S    SEEMS. 


[4] 


As  I  HAVE  — THOU  HADST  THY  BATTLE; 
ONE  GREAT  TEST,  SURMOUNTING  ALL  ; 
FIERCER,  LONGER  THAN  THE  OTHERS, 

WHERE  I  STAND  AND  WATCH  THEE  FALL, 

WHIRLING,  EDDYING, 

STRUGGLING,  STEADYING, 
THROUGH  THIS  CASCADE  MOUNTAINS'  GORGE  ; 

NEVER  DOUBTING, 

CUTTING,  FLOUTING, 
GLAD  IN  TRIUMPH,  ONWARD  FORGE, 

MIGHTY,  PULSING,  CEASELESS  RIVER, 

IN    THY    JOURNEY    TO    THE    SEA, 

WHERE  THY  STRIVING  ENDS  FOREVER, 
.  .  .  MlNE  WILL,  IN  ETERNITY. 


[5] 
LIFE'S  PARADOXES 

LIGHT  OUT  OF  DARKNESS, 
SURCEASE  FROM  PAIN  ; 

JOY  OUT  OF  SADNESS, 
OUT  OF  LOSS,  GAIN. 

STRENGTH  FROM  OUR  WEAKNESS, 
REST  FROM  OUR  CARE, 

GOD  RECOMPENSES 

FOR  ALL  THAT  WE  BEAR. 


[6] 
THE  LIGHT  THAT  BURNS  FOR  ME 

THERE  MAY  BE  NO  TEARS  THAT  MY  EYES  CAN  FEEL, 
YET  GRIEVING,  MY  HEART  MAY  THE  TEARS  CONCEAL, 

AND   MY  SOUL  AS  SAD  CAN  BE  ; 
WHEN  MOORINGS  ARE  LOOSENED  AND  CAST  ASIDE, 
AND  BORNE  ON  THE  QUIET  RESISTLESS  TIDE, 

MY    SHIP    PUTS    OUT   TO    SEA. 

THERE  MAY  BE  NO  SIGN  NOR  AN  OUTWARD  SHOW 
As  SADLY  I  GAZE  AT  THE  STEADY  GLOW 

OF    THE    LIGHT    THAT    BURNS    FOR    ME. 

BUT  SWEETER  MY  SADNESS  FOR  THAT  CLEAR  LIGHT, 
IN  MEM'RY  'TWILL  CHEER  ME  THROUGH  EVERY  NIGHT 

MY    SHIP    IS    ON    THE    SEA. 

'TWILL    SHINE    THROUGH    THE    GLOOM    WITH    A    STEADY 

GLEAM, 

THE    STAR    OF    MY    LIFE    AND    OF    EVERY    DREAM 
I    HAVE    OF    LOVE,   AND    THEE. 

THEN  KEEP  IT,  DEAR  HEART,  so  'TWILL  BRIGHTLY  BURN, 
To  SHOW  ME  THE  HAVEN  AS  I  RETURN, 

WHEN  MY  SHIP  COMES  BACK  FROM  SEA. 


[7] 
MIRROR  LAND 

YOU,  WHO  READ  THESE  LINES  OF  MINE, 
LET  ME,  TOO,  YOUR  HEART  DIVINE. 
LET  ME  FEEL  ITS  ACHES  WITH  YOU, 
LET  ME  SHARE  ITS  PLEASURES,  TOO. 
CLASP  YOUR  HAND  IN  MINE  THE  WHILE, 
COME,  DEAR  FRIEND,  AND  THROUGH  THE  STILE 
WE'LL  GO  TOGETHER  HAND  IN  HAND 
AND  WANDER  IN  A  MIRROR  LAND. 

WE'LL  FIND  REFLECTED  AS  WE  GO, 
JOYS  WE'VE  FELT  AND  GRIEFS  WE  KNOW. 
YOU  WILL  SHOW  ME  THINGS  THAT  HID 
FROM  PRYING  EYES,  YET  COME  UNBID, 
AND  HERE  AND  THERE  LIKE  SPECTRES  RISE 
To  DIM  THE  AZURE  OF  YOUR  SKIES. 
I  WILL  BE  AS  CANDID,  TOO, 

IN   EVERYTHING    I    SHOW    TO    YOU. 

PERHAPS,  AS  THROUGH  THIS  LAND  WE  GO, 
WE'LL  FIND  THE  THINGS  THAT  GRIEVE  us  so 

ARE    PHANTOMS,   MYTHS,   AND    WE    SHALL    FEEL 

THAT  ONLY  WHAT  WE  LOVE  is  REAL. 

WE'LL  WANDER  THROUGH  THE  PLEASANT  FIELDS 
ALONG  A  PATH  WHERE  NATURE  WIELDS 

IN    FAIREST    MOOD,   A    MOTHER'S    SWAY, 

AND  NODDING  FLOWERS  BOW  THE  WAY. 

WE'LL  WANDER  ON  THROUGH  LEAFY  GROVE 

WHERE  GENTLE  FOREST  CREATURES  ROVE, 

THE  LAND  OF  REST,  THE  LAND  OF  DREAMS, 

WHERE  SINGING  BIRDS  AND  BABBLING  STREAMS 

ENCHANT  THE  DREAMER,  AS  HE  LIES 

AND  GAZES  HEAVENWARD,  THROUGH  EYES 

WlTH  LIDS  HALF  CLOSED,  AND  THOUGHTS  SOMEWHERE 

BETWEEN  FORGETFULNESS  AND  CARE. 


AND  THEN,  WE'LL  GO  THROUGH  FOREST  DENSE, 
OUR  PROGRESS  SLOW,  OUR  MUSCLES  TENSE, 
WHERE  BOULDERS,  BRIERS,  FALLEN  TREES, 
AND  GREATER  OBSTACLES  THAN  THESE 
DEFY  OUR  PROGRESS,  SAY  "TURN  BACK," 
FOR  HERE  THERE  IS  NO  BEATEN  TRACK. 
I  FEAR  WE'LL  GRIEVE  AND  OFT  REPINE, 
O  GENTLE,  TRUSTFUL  FRIEND  OF  MINE, 
BUT  SOMEHOW  WE  WILL  HEW  THE  WAY 
THROUGH  BRUSH  AND  TREES  TO  LIGHT  OF  DAY. 

AND  THEN  WE'LL  CLIMB  A  MOUNTAINSIDE; 
WlTH  CARE,  DEAR  FRIEND  !  THE  DANGERS  HIDE 
BELOW,  ABOVE,  IN  FRONT,  BEHIND. 
SOME  THOUGHTLESS  ABSENCE  OF  THE  MIND 
MIGHT  CAUSE  A  STUMBLE,  THEN  A  FALL  ; 
FORGETTING  FOR  THE  MOMENT  ALL 

WE'VE    LEARNED    UNTIL    THE    PRESENT    TIME, 

MIGHT  COST  THE  EFFORT  OF  OUR  CLIMB  ; 

AND  FROM  A  CHASM  OF  DESPAIR 

YOUR  VOICE  AND  MINE  WOULD  FILL  THE  AIR. 

ON,  UP  WE'LL  GO  AROUND  THE  EDGE 

OF    MANY    A    ROCKY,  JUTTING    LEDGE  ; 

AND  HIGHER,  HIGHER  AS  WE  GO, 
THE  MORE  WE'LL  LOSE  THE  SIGHT  BELOW 
OF  BARRIERS  THAT  SEEMED  SO  HIGH, 
BUT  DWINDLE  AS  WE  NEAR  THE  SKY. 

AND  WE  SHALL  FEEL,  AS  WE  ASCEND, 

THE  GROWING  STRENGTH  OUR  EFFORTS  LEND  ; 

FOR  EVERY  TRIUMPH  IN  THE  PAST 

WlLL  GIVE  US  COURAGE  SURE  TO  LAST 

UNTIL  WE  REACH  THE  MOUNTAIN'S  CREST, 


[9] 


AND  THERE,  TOGETHER,  WE  WILL  REST. 
THEN,  GAZING  ON  A  BROADER  VIEW, 
FORGET  THE  THINGS  THAT  I  AND  YOU 

HAVE    IN    THE    PAST    ALLOWED    TO    BLIND 
THE    CLEARER    VISION    OF    THE    MIND  ; 
AND    DOWN    THE    MOUNTAINSIDE    WE*LL    ROLL 
THE    WEARY    BURDEN    OF    THE    SOUL. 


[10] 

A  GRAIN  OF  MUSTARD  SEED 

THOU  ESSENCE  OF  POTENTIALITY, 
THY  LESSON  OF  MAN'S  IMMORTALITY, 

HATH  GIRDLED  THE  EARTH 

AND  QUICKENED  THE  BIRTH 

OF    STRONG    AND    UNWAVERING    HOPE    IN    ME. 

THOU  SMALLEST  EXAMPLE  FOR  HUMAN  CREED, 
THOU'RT  LEAST,  THOU'RT  GREATEST,  THOU 
MUSTARD  SEED  J 

IF  FAITH  SUCH  AS  THINE 

COULD  ONLY  BE  MINE, 
FROM  MOUNTAINS  OF  DOUBT  WOULD  MY  LIFE  BE 

FREED. 


LOVE  NEVER  DIES 

LOVE  NEVER  DIES  ! 
AND  WHEN  WE  SAY  A  LOVE  IS  DEAD, 

OUR  LANGUAGE  IS  A  FAULTY  THING. 
IF  ONCE  LOVE  LIFTS  ITS  TIMID  HEAD 

IN    SWEET-VOICED    MELODY   TO    SING, 
IT    NEVER    DIES  ! 

LOVE  NEVER  DIES  ! 
TRUE  LOVE,  AN  ATTRIBUTE  OF  GOD, 

Is    LIKE    TO    HlM    AND    CANNOT   END. 

WHO  WALKS  THIS  WAY  A  PATH  HAS  TROD, 
WHERE  JOY  WITH  DUTY  HAS  A  BLEND 
THAT  NEVER  DIES. 

LOVE  NEVER  DIES  ? 
THEN  WHAT  OF  THOSE  WHO  NOW  ARE  COLD? 

YEA,  MORE,  WHO  HATE,  WHO  ONCE  DID  LOVE? 
'TWAS  NEVER  LOVE  !    A  PASSION  BOLD 

DECEIVED  THE  HEART;  BORN  FROM  ABOVE, 
LOVE  NEVER  DIES  ! 


[12] 

THE  MEADOW-LARK 

MEADOW-LARK,  SWEET  SINGER  OF  THE  FIELDS, 
NEVER  DO  I  HEAR  THY  JOYOUS  SONG, 

BUT    IN    MY    SPIRIT    EVERY    EVIL    YIELDS, 

AND    GOOD    RESOLVES    WITHIN    ME    ARE    MADE    STRONG. 

THY  SOUL,  so  BRIMMING  WITH  TUMULTUOUS  ECSTASY, 
HATH  WELDED  DOUBLY  STRONG  THE  BOND  'TWIXT  THEE 

AND    ME. 

THOU  DOST  NOT  CHOOSE  THE  SHADED  LEAFY  DELL 
As  IF  THOU  HADST  A  MESSAGE  FOR  THE  FEW  ; 

NOR,  'TWIXT  FOUR  WALLS,  AS  HUMAN  VOICES  TELL 
THEIR  PRAISE  OF  GOD  TO  THOSE  WITHIN  THE  PEW  ; 

BUT  LIMITED  ALONE  BY  THY  CREATOR'S  WILL, 

THY  SONG  DOTH  SATURATE,  DOTH  SATISFY  AND  FILL. 

THY  BODY  DOTH  NOT  LIFT  THY  SONG  TO  HEIGHT 
ATTAINED  BY  ONE  AKIN  TO  THEE  IN  NAME  ; 

NoR  CAN  MY  PRAISE  GIVE  UNTO  THEE  ARIGHT 
THY  DUE,  AS  SHELLEY  GAVE  THE  OTHER  FAME. 

BUT  UPWARD,  EVER  UPWARD,  BORNE  WITHOUT  THY 

WING, 

THY  SONG,  'TWOULD  SEEM,  COULD  MAKE  THE  DOME  OF 
HEAVEN  RING. 

PERHAPS  I  LOVE  THEE  MORE,  THOU  FEATHERED  VOICE, 
BECAUSE  THY  BODY,  EARTH-BOUND  LIKE  MY  OWN, 

MUST  YET  BECOME  AS  MINE,  WHICH  HATH  NO  CHOICE 
BUT  FIND  ITS  PLACE  IN  MOTHER  EARTH,  ALONE. 

AND  OH,  MY  DEAREST,  CHERISHED  WISH  SHALL  EVER  BE, 

MY    SONG    MAY    BLESS    SOME    SOUL,  AS    THY    SONG    BLESSES 
ME. 


[13] 
EVIL  PLEASURE 

WELD  NOT  TOO  STRONG  THE  LINK  BETWEEN 
THYSELF  AND  GODS  OF  MOLTEN  BRASS, 

BUT  KEEP  THE  LINE  OF  CLEAVAGE  CLEAN 
'TwiXT  JOYS  THAT  PLEASE  OR  MAY  HARASS. 

AN    EVIL    PLEASURE    GROWS    TO    BE 

As  HEAVY  AS  A  LOAD  OF  LEAD, 
AND  WHEN  'TIS  WELDED  FAST  TO  THEE 
THY  LIFE  IS  CHAINED  AS  TO  THE  DEAD. 


[14] 

SHASTA 

SHASTA,  MEN  HAVE  SUNG  OF  THEE, 

OTHERS  WILL  IN  COMING  DAYS  ; 
EVER,  ALWAYS  THOU  SHALT  BE 

A  BEACON  IN  THE  MANTLING  HAZE 

OF    DOUBT,  THAT    DOTH    AT    TIMES    O*ERSPREAD 

THE  PATH  OUR  FEET  ANON  MAY  TREAD. 

CREEPING,  TOILING  PAST  THY  BASE, 

BENT  ON  PURPOSE  ILL  DEFINED, 
MEN  SEE  THY  UNSULLIED  FACE 

TEACHING  TO  DISCERNING  MIND 
A  PURPOSE  FIXED  ;    OF  SOUL  SERENE 
WHERE  DOUBT  MAY  NEVER  INTERVENE. 

AH,  MANY  LESSONS  THOU  DOST  TEACH 
As  I  BEHOLD  THY  TOWERING  FORM. 
THEY  BID  MY  ASPIRATION  REACH 

TO'RD    HEAVEN,  THROUGH    THE    BLINDING    STORM; 

THAT  MAN,  TO  BUILD  TO  HEIGHT  PROFOUND 
MUST  DELVE  TO  DEPTH  BENEATH  THE  GROUND. 

MIGHT  I  BUT  HEED  THIS  ONE,  TODAY, 

THOUGH  ALL  BESIDE  MAY  PASS  UNLEARNED, 
THEN,  SHOULD  I  NEVER  DISOBEY 

THE    LAW    OF    LOVE,   OR    BE    CONCERNED 
EXCEPT    TO    STEADFAST    KEEP    MY    VOW 
To    BUILD    AS    FIRM,   AS    FIXED    AS    THOU. 


[-5] 

ARTIST  INFINITE 

WHO    PAINTED    THE    FACE    OF    THAT    FLOWER  ? 

WHO    HUNG    YONDER    ORB    IN    THE    SKY, 
AND    DID    IN    MIRACULOUS    POWER 

MY    SOUL    TO    MY    BODY   ALLY? 

'TWAS  HE,  WHO  THUS  MAKES  ME  TO  PONDER, 
To  STRUGGLE,  TO  STRIVE  AND  TO  YEARN 

FOR  PARADISE,  BECKONING  YONDER, 
AND  CALLING  MY  SOUL  TO  RETURN. 


SONGS  OF  HAWAII 

0  DREAMY  ISLE,  I  SIT  THE  WHILE 

AND    LISTEN    TO    THY    SONGS. 
MY    HEART    IS    SAD,   AND    YET    IS    GLAD 
ITS    LOVE    TO    THEE    BELONGS. 

So    FAR    FROM    THEE    I    CANNOT    SEE 
THY    SPLENDID,   FRONDED    PALMS, 

YET,  AS   I    HEAR    THY    MELLOW   CHEER, 
I    WORSHIP    IN    THY   PSALMS. 

IN  MEMORY'S  KEN  I  AM  AGAIN 

UPON  THE  PALI'S  HEIGHT; 
AND  UNDER  ME  THE  LAND  AND  SEA, 

A  PICTURE  OF  DELIGHT. 

1  VISIONS  SEE  OF  WAIKIKI, 

THE  MOONLIGHT  ON  THE  REEF; 

ITS    SOFTNESS    SHED    O'ER    DlAMOND    HEAD, 

.  FORGOTTEN  is  MY  GRIEF. 


[17] 

Two  SONGS 

FOR  ME  THE  SKYLARK  NEVER  SANO 

SAVE  SOARING  IN  THE  PAGES 
OF  SHELLEY,  WORDSWORTH,  TENNYSON, 

To  SING  FOR  ALL  THE  AGES. 
BUT,  AH,  I'VE  HEARD  A  MEADOW-LARK 

FROM  HEDGES,  FIELDS  AND  FENCES, 
POUR  ON  THE  AIR  HIS  SONG  OF  JOY, 

WHEN  ROSY  DAWN  COMMENCES. 

HlS  ROUNDED,  MELLOW,  SOULFUL  SONG, 

LlKE  FULL-SUSTAINED  CONTRALTO, 
WOULD  BLEND  IN  SWEETEST  HARMONY, 

THE  TREBLE  WITH  HIS  ALTO, 
IF  WITH  THE  SKYLARK  HE  COULD  SING, 

THOUGH  NEVER  SOARING  HIGH; 
THE  ONE  A  LOVE-SONG  OF  THE  EARTH, 

THE  OTHER  OF  THE  SKY. 


THE  LIFE  THAT  MIGHT  HAVE  BEEN 

LORD   OF    MY   LIFE   THAT    MIGHT    HAVE    BEEN  ! 
LORD   OF    MY   LIFE    SO    FILLED   WITH    SIN  ! 
LORD   OF    MY    SECRET    HEART  ! 

GRIEVING,  I  GRIEVE  FOR  WHAT  is  NOT  ; 
MOURNING,  I  MOURN  EACH  HIDDEN  BLOT  ; 
SERVING,  I  SERVE  IN  PART. 

BURIED  WITHIN  MY  LIFE  THE  WHILE, 
DEEP  IN  MY  HEART  MAY  BE  THE  GUILE 

No  MORTAL  EYE  CAN  SEE. 
NOTHING  I  DO  CAN  EVER  HIDE, 
NOTHING  CAN  IN  MY  HEART  ABIDE, 

HIDDEN,  DEAR  LORD,  FROM  THEE. 

LORD  OF  MY  LIFE,  MY  SPIRIT  YEARNS  ; 
QUENCH  NOT  THE  SMOKING  FLAX  THAT  BURNS 

SMOTHERED  IN  DOUBT  AND  SIN. 
STRENGTHEN  MY  ARM  FOR  VALIANT  STRIFE, 
STRENGTHEN  MY  WILL,  TO  MAKE  MY  LIFE 

THE  LIFE  THAT  MIGHT  HAVE  BEEN. 


THE  GREATER  STRUGGLE  THERE  MAY  BE, 
THE  STRONGER  BARRIERS  WE  MEET  — 

THE  KEENER  ZEST  IN  VICTORY, 
THE  LESS  THE  SORROW  IN  DEFEAT. 

THE  GREATER  PATIENCE  UNDER  TRIAL, 
THE  EASIER  OUR  SELF-CONTROL  — 

THE  LESS  OUR  SUFFERING  THE  WHILE 
THE  BILLOWS  OF  MISFORTUNE  ROLL. 

THE  DARKER  BE  THE  NIGHT  OF  PAIN, 

THE  LONELIER  THE  VIGIL  BE  — 
THE  SWEETER  REST  AT  MORN  WE*LL  GAIN, 

THE  FRIEND  WE  FIND,  WILL  TRUER  BE. 

THE  MORE  OUR  NEED  FOR  EARNEST  PRAYER, 
THE  DEEPER  ANGUISH  IN  THE  SOUL  — 

THE  GREATER  JOY  TO  LOSE  THE  CARE, 
THE  SURER  GOD  WILL  MAKE  us  WHOLE. 


[*6] 
GROWTH  OF  THE  SOUL 

CLIMB  FROM  THE  DEPTHS  OF  THE  VALLEY'S  CHILL, 
OUT  OF  THE  SHADOWS  THAT  LURK  BELOW, 

NURSE  AT  THE  BREAST  OF  THE  THROBBING  HILL, 
GROW  IN  THY  DAY  AS  THE  TALL  TREES  GROW. 

THIS,  SOUL  OF  MINE,  BE  THY  CONSTANT  CRY; 

THIS,  O  MY  SOUL,  is  TO  NEVER  DIE! 

WHENCE  CAMEST  THOU?  .  .  .  GIVE  IT  LITTLE  THOUGHT! 

WHITHER?  .  .  .  AH,  LET  THIS  CONCERN  THEE  MORE! 
INTO  THIS  STATE  THOU  ART  BLINDLY  BROUGHT; 

OUT  OF  IT  SEE  BUT  AN  OPEN  DOOR. 
ONCE  PAST  THE  PORTAL,  PERHAPS  'TWILL  BE 
GROWTH  OF  TODAY  WILL  HAVE  MADE  THEE  FREE. 


[21] 

MY  TYRANT 

A  TYRANT  THOU  ART  GROWN  TO  BE, 
ENSNARING  ME  IN  MESHES  DEEP; 

RELENTLESS  ART  THOU,  POESY, 

COMMANDING  ME  THAT  ERE  I  SLEEP, 

I  YET  MUST  KNEEL  BEFORE  THE  SHRINE 

I  BUILDED  WHEN  I  MADE  THEE  MINE. 

I  SEEK  THEE  WHEN  I  FAIN  WOULD  REST  J 
WHEN  FOOT-SORE,  WEARY,  TRAVEL-STAINED. 

I  SEEK  THEE  FOR  I  LOVE  THEE  BEST, 

AND  THEN,  TO  PROVE  THE  POWER  GAINED, 

IF  NOON  OF  DAY  OR  NOON  OF  NIGHT, 

I  HEAR  THEE  SAY,  "I  BID  THEE  WRITE!" 

AND  OFT  I  PLEADING,  PRAY  OF  THEE 
To  SPARE  ME  TILL  ANOTHER  TIME, 

AND  PROMISE  THEN,  SWEET  PoESY, 
To  WORSHIP  IN  POETIC  RHYME. 

THOU  UNRELENTING  BIDST  ME  WRITE, 

AND  I'VE  OBEYED  THEE,  NOW,  GOOD  NIGHT! 


1225 


[22] 

THE  EBB  OF  THE  TIDE 

WHEN  AFTER  THE  FLOOD  COMES  THE  EBB  OF  THE  TIDE 

AND  I  SHALL  DRIFT  OUT  TO  SEA, 
PAST  THE  HEADLAND  SO  BARE  MAY  I  OJJIETLY  GLIDE 

WlTH  A  TRUST  THAT  WILL  COMFORT  ME. 

IN    THE    STILL    AFTERGLOW,   WHEN    THE    SUNLIGHT    HAS 

SHONE 

IN    A    LAST    LING*  RING    RAY    FOR    ME, 
AND    MY    DAY    RUN    ITS    COURSE,   MAY    I    FEEL    HE    HAS 

KNOWN 
AND    FORGIVES    MY    INFIRMITY. 

PAST    THE    BUOY,  THAT    MARKS    WELL    THE    TREACHEROUS 

SHOAL, 
PAST   THE    BEACON    THAT    WARNS    THROUGH    THE    NIGHT, 

SAFE  FROM  BREAKER  AND  ROCK,  WITH  A  FAITH  THAT  is 

WHOLE, 
MAY  I  DRIFT  WITH  MY  TRUST  IN  HlS  MIGHT. 

FOR  LIFE'S  SUN  CANNOT  SET  TILL  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  DAY, 

THOUGH  IT  OFTEN  SEEMS  so  IN  OUR  PAIN  ; 
AND  His  WISDOM  is  SURE,  BE  OUR  FEARS  WHAT  THEY 

MAY, 

GOD    GARNERS    NO    UNRIPENED    GRAIN. 


THIS  IS  THE  ENDING  OF  THE  BOOK  OF  VERSE  THE 
TITLE  POEM  OF  WHICH  IS  MY  SOUL'S  CATHEDRAL 
BY  JAMES  HENRY  MACLAFFERTY,  DESIGNED  AND 
EXECUTED  BY  J.  H.  NASH  AT  THE  TOMOYE  PRESS 
AND  GIVEN  TO  THE  PUBLIC  THROUGH  THE  ENTER 
PRISE  OF  PAUL  ELDER  «•  COMPANY  IN  THE  YEAR 
OF  OUR  LORD  NINETEEN  HUNDRED  &  TEN  IN  THE 
CITY  LOVED  AROUND  THE  WORLD  — SAN  FRANCISCO 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  AT  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


Form  L-9 
20m-l,  '42(8319) 


PS 

3525   MacLaffertyl 
K217m  -  My  soul1 s| 
cathedral. 


000  929  335  8 


PS 

3525 

M217m 


